FDI debate in Lok Sabha Dec 4-5; UPA sure of numbers

New Delhi: The UPA government Monday said it was confident of its numbers in the Lok Sabha, a day ahead of the crucial debate and voting in the house on FDI in retail, and urged all parties to reject "politics" behind the issue.

"We are confident of the numbers," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters. The debate will begin Dec 4 and the voting will take place Dec 5. Terming the debate as "pure politics", Nath urged all parties to reject the politics behind the motion sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

"I urge all parties to reject the politics of it and vote against the politics in the house," said Kamal Nath. "The policy is very clear that the states have to decide on allowing any (FDI in retail) proposal". The Congress has issued a whip to all its members asking them to be present in the Lok Sabha on Dec 4 and 5 for the crucial debate and vote on FDI in retail.

The minister said the government would get the amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), required to facilitate FDI in multi-brand retail, passed in both houses, if needed.